…Calling It Attack On Free Expression, Ploy To Silence Youth
Global Rights strongly condemns the decision of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to withhold the certificate of Ms Rita Ushie Uguamaye despite her successful completion of the compulsory one-year service to the nation.
In a statement signed by its Programme Officer, Civic Space Strengthening, Damilola Decker, the right group said, “This action appears to be a continuation of the disturbing trend of government sanctioned reprisals against citizens for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of expression.”
Earlier this year, Ms Uguamaye took to social media to criticise the policies of the Tinubu administration, which she argued has left Nigerians poorer and less safe. For the “crime” of expressing her opinion, the NYSC extended her service by two months.
According to the statement, the refusal to release her certificate as a punitive measure is one that is deeply troubling and wholly unacceptable in a democracy.
“Global Rights had earlier joined other Nigerians in condemning the infringement of her rights when the initial incident occurred, and we are dismayed that the authorities have chosen to escalate rather than resolve the matter and let her pass out in peace.
“This development comes in the same week that prominent activist Omoyele Sowore was unlawfully arrested and reportedly tortured on the orders of the Inspector General of Police — another alarming signal of the increasingly authoritarian posture of state actors.
“It raises a fundamental question: do government officials respect the very laws they swore to uphold?
Section 39 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended, guarantees the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to dissent against government policies. This right is not a privilege to be granted at the convenience of those in power; it is a cornerstone of democratic governance.
“Suppressing it — particularly among young Nigerians who already have dwindling faith in the state — only deepens the divide between government and citizens.
“With the youth forming 65 percent of Nigeria’s population, silencing young voices undermines the nation’s future. Organizing youth conferences or “confabs” will not repair the damage caused when authorities equate dissent with treason and wield power to silence critics.
“Consequently, we demand the immediate release of Ms Uguamaye’s NYSC certificate and an end to any attempt to blacklist her or obstruct her future employment prospects.
“The current administration at the helm of Nigeria’s affairs should retrace its footsteps before it earns its own certificate for authoritarianism.
“Global Rights will continue to defend the civic space and the rights of Nigerians to speak out, assemble, and participate fully in democratic life,” the group noted.
